Seven points currently separates Fulham from safety, not a gap they can allow to grow much larger if they are to beat the drop this season. The Cottagers are in desperate need of some positive results but this weekend they face a hugely testing opponent in the form of Manchester United.

The Red Devils were previously ruled out of the top four race but victory in Saturday’s early kick-off will see them move into the Champions League places. They have been well and truly transformed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but the Norwegian boss must ensure his side does not lose their momentum.

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Fulham News: Anguissa and Schurrle may return

It has been quite a while since Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa last took to the pitch. The Cameroon international has not been spotted since his sending off at Old Trafford early in December due to injury. Although the oft-branded flop has not been sorely missed, he may be set to feature this weekend after making his return to full training. Andre Schurrle was missing for his side’s trip to Crystal Palace last weekend but the minor nature of his knock means the German should make a swift return to the starting XI.

Manchester United News: Rashford in talks over new contract

Having successfully tied Anthony Martial down for the next five years, the powers that be at Manchester United have now turned their attention towards Marcus Rashford. The 21 year old made his 100th appearance for the club at the weekend, the second youngest player to reach such a milestone. During the clash with the Foxes, the forward also netted his ninth league goal of the campaign, his best ever return. Clearly a man with bags of potential, United are keen to extend his contract and are willing to tempt him by more than doubling his current salary.

Red Devils near clean bill of health

Earlier on in the season, United had one of the longest injury lists in the entire division but the situation is far rosier now. Marcos Rojo is the only player still being monitored and even he is not far from a return. The Argentine was back running outside last week and his manager said that now he will be able to “see the light at the end of the tunnel”. He still needs another week or two but even so, having just one absence at this stage in the season is a huge positive.

Analysis: Brighton win not a turning point for Fulham

Having emphatically turned things around against Brighton last Tuesday, there was an expectation that the Cottagers could use the result as a platform for better things. Their poor showing against Crystal Palace however showed once again that this Fulham side are unable to sustain any sort of form. The positive feeling stemming from the Seagulls victory will have long evaporated now so Fulham are unlikely to be relishing this weekend’s challenging test.

United to keep up the momentum

After suffering his first setback in the draw with Burnley, Solskjaer needed a response against Leicester. He got one too as his men ground out the win against a determined Foxes. While not an outstanding display, the Red Devils have to be praised for their resilience as they managed another clean sheet. This fighting spirit will come in handy here as the visitors face a side short on quality but one willing to work tirelessly. Ranieri’s men haven’t collected a single point from matches against any top six side this season and there is little reason to think this will change anytime soon. An in-form United must be backed for the win and are surprisingly well-priced to get the three points at odds of 8/13.

Mitrovic danger to be snuffed out

Against Crystal Palace, Aleksandar Mitrovic cut a hugely isolated figure upfront. Any time Fulham looked to put a ball in the danger area, the Serbian was the only man lurking close to goal. It should not come as a surprise then that Fulham’s lone striker is responsible for over 40% of the goals his side have managed from open play in the league. By keeping him quiet, an increasingly robust Red Devils defence should have few other problems to deal with in this match. United have shipped in just one goal during trips to Tottenham, Arsenal and Leicester, further evidence that a win to nil (2/1) is a standout selection for this contest.

Recent Matches

Even a draw would be a big result for Fulham but their head to head record against Manchester United suggests even that will be too much to ask for. The Cottagers have lost eight of their last nine clashes with the English giants in what has long been a very one-sided fixture.

8th August 2018: Manchester United 4 – 1 Fulham

Claudio Ranieri said this clash was one between 11 lambs and 11 wolves as his side were timidly brushed aside at Old Trafford. The Italian took particular issue with his players’ first-half display, one that saw them fall three goals behind. Improvements were made after the interval but hope of building on Aboubakar Kamara’s penalty were ended when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was harshly shown a second yellow card.

9th February 2014: Manchester United 2 – 2 Fulham

Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen enjoyed a happy return to Old Trafford as Darren Bent rescued a point for his Fulham side. The late equaliser meant the post-match attention turned to David Moyes’ awful tactical approach in the match. United registered an incredible 81 crosses during the 90 minutes, the most by any Premier League side since 2006. The approach failed to reap rewards though as the hosts were unable to put themselves out of sight in a match they absolutely dominated.

2nd November 2013: Fulham 1 – 3 Manchester United

It did not take long for Manchester United to effectively put an end to this contest. Early strikes from Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney gave the visitors an unassailable lead after just 22 minutes. Some home fans were left in stunned silence while other voiced their frustration by sending boos around Craven Cottage. Little happened to improve their mood although Alex Kacaniklic’s deflected strike in the second half did give them a faint glimmer of hope.

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